This was the first museum in the world to elevate everyday design and design classics to the status of art by placing them in their social and cultural context. Fashion, creative technology, and architecture are explored with thematic displays from the museum's permanent collection of design classics, and temporary exhibitions provide an in-depth focus on subjects, including retrospectives on the work of great designers such as Charles Eames and Isamu Noguchi, or thematic shows on the Bauhaus or erotic design. The museum looks forward, too, by showcasing innovative contemporary designs and technologies, an area that kids find absorbing (there are free activity packs to spark their interest further). All of this is supplemented by a busy program of lectures, events, and talks, including a workshop for kids. If you're in need of sustenance, there's the trendsetting Blueprint Café (designed by who else but Terence Conran), with its river terrace and superb views. For quicker snacks at a lower price, the museum's own café is on the ground floor beside the Thames footpath. The museum store sells good quality, high-design products. Entry to both cafés and the store is free. COST: £6. Tube: London Bridge or DLR: Tower Gateway.